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As the prospects for Congress passing a broad energy bill this year grow dim, Reps. Edward Markey (D-MA) and Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-CA) last Wednesday introduced separate legislation aimed at bolstering the reliability of the electricity grid and easing run-away energy prices.

Enron Task Force prosecutors in Houston last week asked a judge to explain why he refused to accept a plea agreement that would have sent Lea Fastow to jail for five months.

Three Gulf of Mexico gas producers have called on FERC to approve “as soon as possible” a pipeline expansion proposed by Discovery Gas Transmission LLC and affiliate, Discovery Producer Services LLC, which they say will offer greater market access for their supplies.

Three Gulf of Mexico gas producers have called on FERC to approve “as soon as possible” a pipeline expansion proposed by Discovery Gas Transmission LLC and affiliate Discovery Producer Services LLC, which they say will offer greater market access for their supplies.

Enron Task Force prosecutors have asked a judge in Houston to explain why he refused to accept a plea agreement that would have sent Lea Fastow to jail for five months.

Two West Coast liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects moved forward last week. Privately held Crystal Energy LLC of Houston announced Wednesday that it signed a preliminary agreement for Alaskan LNG supplies and will be filing an application with U.S. Coast Guard to transform an existing offshore oil platform along the Southern California coast into an LNG receiving terminal, and Mitsubishi Corp.’s U.S. subsidiary, Sound Energy Solutions (SES), last Monday filed at FERC seeking an environmental impact report on its proposed receiving terminal in Long Beach Harbor.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s “rules of the road,” designed to maintain market integrity and eliminate manipulation (Order 644), instead will put a wrench in the works of efficient market operations, a number of market participants said in asking the Commission for further clarifications.

The federal bankruptcy judge in Enron Corp.’s Chapter 11 proceeding cleared the way Thursday for Sierra Pacific Resources’ two Nevada utilities to appeal an earlier judgment ordering them to pay more than $330 million in penalties for a busted power supply contract with Enron that was broken off last year. The judge stayed his previous decision ordering the utilities to pay Enron in lieu of them posting bonds and cash while they pursue appeals through federal regulators and the courts.

Sen. Bob Graham (D-FL), a vocal opponent of oil and natural gas drilling off the coast of Florida, announced Monday that he will not seek re-election when his current term expires in late 2004. Graham was elected to the Senate in 1986, and served as governor of the Sunshine State for eight years (1979-1987). He is the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, and also has served on several other committees during his three terms in the Senate — Energy and Natural Resources, Environmental and Public Works, Finance and Select Intelligence.